wolff or aftermarket "plus" strength recoil spring for P380?

[mad1ben2]

Don't see any wolff springs on their website for the P-380 but hoping I just missed them. I'd like to try a +strength recoil spring.

Took my (new to me) p380 to the range this weekend and had a lot of failures where the slide would not return fully into battery (it would hang up about 1/8-1/4"). The gun supposedly had 300-400 rounds through it and I shot 100 more this weekend. Great shooter, very accurate, and noticeably less recoil than my LCP... I really like it but need to get it reliable before it's of any value to me.

Previous owner had issues too (couple threads here) but supposedly got them worked out based on feedback from Kahr on the ammo used. I shot various types of ammo and had same issues with all of it. It's the gun, not the ammo.

I also had issues getting the first round to load (using slide stop release). Even when I ensured the first round was high in the mag and pointing at the chamber as soon as I'd hit the slide stop it would nose-dive into the bottom of the feed ramp.

If anyone know of a stronger recoil spring I can use please let me know. I may try some keltec p32 extra strength mag springs to help with the first round feeding issue. Thanks to jocko and wynn (although I never saw a follow-up on your FTF and whether the new mag springs solved that or not).

thx, scott

[wyntrout]

I just checked again and there are no products for P380's or any .45's. A few months ago I wrote them and asked about those:

Sent 10/23/2010:
Wolff Springs
Customer Service

Request/Suggestion for Spring Information

Hi,

I’m a “fan” of your products and would like to request that you post information on your springs so that we could try things that might work for our pistols when you don’t supply parts for that model/brand. Recoil and striker springs could be quickly adjusted and tested for our needs. The magazine springs, as well, would help us adjust for problems in feeding or holding the slide lock up with enough force.
Of great interest would be information to let us compare springs by listing
wire diameter,
type or composition,
coil inner and outer diameters,
coils per inch and
total coils in a particular spring.
Spring force rates in pounds would be nice, too.

This would enable us to buy springs and adjust them to our needs when you don’t offer them for our particular weapons. Many of us Kahr owners are awaiting your spring support for our P380’s and the .45’s.

I tried some KelTec springs for the P380 magazines, but couldn’t tell much difference. I wouldn’t know where to start with the .45’s. I have a PM45 and have been experimenting with various combinations of followers and mated springs in Kahr tubes, attempting to get an extra round capacity and slide-lock-back on empty magazine, but not much success so far.

One of my experiments used a Colt officer’s Model stainless 6-round magazine’s follower and spring in the Kahr 5-round PM45 magazine. It held 6 rounds and seemed to hold the slide back on empty magazine, but during firing tests at the range, it would feed okay, but never lock the slide back on empty magazine.

Those of us who have Kahr .45’s would love to see a flush-fitting floor plate for the .45 magazines to enhance concealment and possibly a company like yours making after-market magazines for the .45’s with a working minimal metal follower and flush-fitting metal base plate. With the proper follower, matching spring, and base plate, a flush-fitting magazine with an extra round capacity could be made and enhance the capacity of the .45’s. A kit with these components would be nice to modify existing magazine tubes to increase capacity.

You offer singles, three-packs and ten-packs of things like magazine springs, and it would be nice if you added five-packs as well.

Thanks very much for your consideration. I know it’s a lot of trouble to do some of these things, but I figure it can’t hurt to ask. We talk a lot about these things on KahrTalk.com and any extra information you could give us would be greatly appreciated.


Reply on 10/25/2010:
Thank you for your email and for taking the time to suggest a new item to add to our product line and the addition of spring specifications to our web site. We depend on our customers to point us in the right direction when determining which springs we should concentrate on or adding something to our web site that might be of assistance to the shooting public. While I can’t give you any commitment to either of your requests, I will pass along your suggestions.

We have considered putting spring specifications or the ability to enter specifications from a spring you are looking to replace and see if we have a similar spring. One of the problems we run into is proprietary information on many of the springs we offer. Another problem is liability – we will always do a database search for a spring if supplied specifications but we can’t recommend a spring used for one application for use in another. Opening that up to the general public might increase our liability should there be a problem with a spring being used for an application other than what it was intended for.

As for making a five (5) pack of magazine springs available, that is a possibility but if you need five springs, you can order five (5). We’ll ship them as a three pack and two (2) single packs. The price of the singles will be pro-rated to match the individual price of the springs in the three pack.

Thanks again for your letter and suggestions, I will pass them along.

Regards,
John Andrews
Wolff Gunsprings

So far, no new product along these lines.

Wynn

[tomwalshco]

Had same issue when mine was new. Polish up the feed ramp AND the chamber. Many of the guys say these areas are nickle plated so I do it by hand.

Q-tip and some mild polishing compound going up and down and in and out following the direction the round travels. Doesn't hurt to do this everytime you clean the gun next 3-4 times. These little guys can also be sensitive to gunpowder residue. So if I shoot more than 50 at a time, I will wipe that area lightly with a Q-tip between magazines.

That'll do it.

[mad1ben2]

Thanks Wynn & Tom. I actually sent it back to Kahr over the weekend and hopefully it will come back 100% functional. I know my LCP had return-to-battery issues only when I hand-cycled the first round from a magazine but never when actually shooting it. From the elsiepea forums I found the stronger wolff spring (and keltec before the LCP-specific springs were available)... was just hoping wolff made them for P380 and I just couldn't find them. I guess there are a lot more LCPs and P3ATs sold than P380s... or the other 2 have more need for aftermarket springs than the P380 does.

I'm sure Kahr will make this right. I also had to send back my PM45 for various issues, so it only made sense to send the P380 back while I was at it.

[wyntrout]

Been there, done that.

Wynn

[Bawanna]

Been there, done that.

Wynn

I remember that, your PM45 was like a yo yo gun there for awhile. Back and forth like a metronome. We all got thru it though and now everything is just peachy huh? I recall the poor slide stamping was one of the issues.

[wyntrout]

Yeah, last time it was at its best ever... pretty much an all-new gun at the range, though, after the new frame. I can carry it now because I can shoot it without a two-handed "death grip"... even weak hand alone! You don't always have time for that kind of grip to keep the gun from jamming.

Wynn

[mad1ben2]

Well I just heard from Kahr regarding my P380 repair and they've now got a stronger recoil spring for the P380. They replaced mine and test fired successfully. Should be mailed back soon.

As for my PM45, well, they're replacing basically the whole gun due to the various problems... which included various light strike problems.

[jocko]

I'm waiting on wolffes to come out with stronger recoil springs in different poundages for this little gun. It shouldn't be long, I would think.

I think Ruger has went through the same thing, Theire little lcp comes wtih 9# factroy springs and the shooters who have bought the 12 and 13# sprigns from wolffs just love it. I think ruger took the easy road andput the 9# sprigns on so no one would have any hand racking issues but the shooters who went to the 12 and 13# srpings have reported alot less felt recoil and brass not flying out of sight.

KARE DID GO TO A STRONG INNER RECOIL SPRING.... FOR THE p380 One would have to order the entire recoil set both inner and outter, as they don't sell either one separtely.

[xzhync]

I'm waiting on wolffes to come out with stronger recoil springs in different poundages for this little gun. It shouldn't be long, I would think.

I think Ruger has went through the same thing, Theire little lcp comes wtih 9# factroy springs and the shooters who have bought the 12 and 13# sprigns from wolffs just love it. I think ruger took the easy road andput the 9# sprigns on so no one would have any hand racking issues but the shooters who went to the 12 and 13# srpings have reported alot less felt recoil and brass not flying out of sight.

KARE DID GO TO A STRONG INNER RECOIL SPRING.... FOR THE p380 One would have to order the entire recoil set both inner and outter, as they don't sell either one separtely.

Jocko and everyone, actually, I just went on the Kahr website and ordered just an inner spring. As of now they are selling them seperately. There was a note saying that you need to order each, but since I already have the spring and just want the stronger inner I just ordered that.

[xzhync]

Jocko and everyone, actually, I just went on the Kahr website and ordered just an inner spring. As of now they are selling them seperately. There was a note saying that you need to order each, but since I already have the spring and just want the stronger inner I just ordered that.

Well, I received my new inner recoil spring today. I really don't think it is a "stronger" spring than the existing inner that I have. I ordered it about 1 week ago after hearing that Kahr is now offering a stronger inner recoil spring. It has the same number of coils and appears to be the same gauge of wire. Maybe the stronger springs aren't available yet. I should have called and asked before ordering...I just figured that what they are selling now is the stronger spring. I am going to call tomorrow and ask.

[racuda]

In an effort to fix my P380 Kahr replaced my recoil spring about 3 weeks ago. I can't tell any difference in it and the old one.

[Squib]

I'm sorry to hear about your P380 problem. I guess I'm just a skeptical kinda person, but I find it very difficult to believe the guy who sold it to you did not have any of those problems.

[xzhync]

Well, I received my new inner recoil spring today. I really don't think it is a "stronger" spring than the existing inner that I have. I ordered it about 1 week ago after hearing that Kahr is now offering a stronger inner recoil spring. It has the same number of coils and appears to be the same gauge of wire. Maybe the stronger springs aren't available yet. I should have called and asked before ordering...I just figured that what they are selling now is the stronger spring. I am going to call tomorrow and ask.

Well I called and talked to Eoin today. He said that the change in the inner spring is very slight. He said the number of coils and thickness are basically the same. He said the "new" inner spring has just a bit more tension. Not sure how they acheive that greater tension, but I won't be concerned about it.

[jocko]

I hear you talking and one has to wonder how they made that more poundage change if all things stayed the same. Evidently there is not alot of difference to probably even matter if you P380 is working great now and you have the "old" style inner spring then we can assumre the newer spring will do just the same Not sure I wold run off and buy that spring just to put it in my P380 being it is workign so good. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DO'T FIX IT.. seems to work for me.